Rebecca Melone, Principal Attorney
Rebecca Melone established Melone Law P.C. in 2014 with the goal of helping families with a range of legal services from estate and family law to traffic tickets and misdemeanor criminal matters. Over the past five years the firm has grown and expanded its services to include a wide range of estate and elder law services. Rebecca has been awarded Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and has been named one of the top family and estate attorneys under 40 in Virginia.
A native of Northern Virginia, Rebecca and her husband decided to return to the area after attending law school in Toledo, Ohio. They welcomed their first daughter, Dallas, in July of 2016.
Rebecca currently volunteers with Wills on Wheels, providing important estate planning presentations and services for nursing home residents. She is a member of the Virginia Bar Association and participates on the Board of the Society of Virginia as the Chairman for the Young Virginians.
Education
- Juris Doctor, University of Toledo, 2012
- Bachelor of Science, International Business, University of Findlay, 2009
- Associate of the Arts, Equestrian Studies, University of Findlay, 2009
Memberships
- Virginia State Bar
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Fairfax Bar Association
- Society of Virginia
- Ladies DC
Awards
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2017, 2018, 2019
- National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 Under 40, 2016
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2016
Priti Khanna, Of Counsel
Priti Khanna joined the firm as Of Counsel in 2016. Priti’s primary fields of practice are domestic relations and immigration law and she regularly handles complex custody, divorce, child support and family related immigration cases.
Priti decided to pursue a career in law in order to join a profession where she could directly and positively impact people and their lives. During law school Priti worked with various non-profit legal organizations assisting victims of domestic violence and immigrants with their legal issues. After graduating from law school Priti went on to work as a staff attorney at State Court of Georgia where she gained insight into the inner workings of the legal system. She subsequently entered private practice where she gained extensive experience in family law, immigration and business law.
After relocating to Virginia, Priti continues her practice in the field of family and immigration law. She believes that everyone has a right to zealous, quality and intelligent legal representation and this belief is visible in the manner in which she practices and represents her clients. Despite her busy work schedule, Priti finds time to volunteer as a pro bono attorney with various non-profit organizations including DCVLP and Human Rights First. Aside from law, Priti’s passions consist of running, books, art and travel. She resides in Reston, Virginia with her husband and daughter and is actively involved in the Reston community.
Education
- Juris Doctor, John Marshall Law School, 2008
Class Rank: top 20%; Award of Excellence in Wills Trust & Estates - Bachelor of Science in Finance (with emphasis in Accounting), Northern Illinois University, 2003
Dean’s List; Treasurer: Financial Management Association
Memberships
- Virginia State Bar
- District of Columbia Bar
- Georgia State Bar
- Fairfax Bar Association
Awards
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2017, 2018
Melanie Hammelman, Of Counsel
Melanie Hammelman joined the firm as Of Counsel in 2018. Melanie’s primary fields of practice are business law, contracts, copyrights and trademarks, and wills, trusts, and estates. Melanie has handled complex litigation cases and will disputes and has been helping clients form their own businesses for years.
Melanie decided to pursue a career in law to assist others in forming and running their small businesses and assisting in estate planning to protect their carefully cultivated businesses. Melanie’s concentration in law school was transactional business practice and civil trial advocacy. During law school Melanie was a clerk for a litigation firm and served as a mediator in the Houston Metropolitan area.
After graduation, Melanie moved from Texas to Virginia with her husband to begin practicing law. Melanie is licensed in both Maryland and Virginia. She has worked extensively in business law, primarily formations and contract drafting, since 2012 and in trademark and copyright law and estate planning since 2013. Melanie and her husband, who is a US Army veteran, now live in Loudoun County with their two young children.
Education
- Juris Doctor, South Texas College of Law, 2011
- Bachelor of Science, University of Houston, Cum Laude
Memberships
- Virginia State Bar
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Fairfax Bar Association
Shirley Chim, Of Counsel
Ms. Chim’s primary fields of practice are criminal, traffic and family law. Ms Chim defends adult and juveniles charged with traffic tickets, DUIs, misdemeanors, felonies, and also provides representations for individuals with custody, visitation, child support, and divorce matters.
Immediately after graduating from law school, Ms. Chim worked as an in-house counsel and a contract specialist for corporations and advised business groups on various transactional matters related to government contracts, vendors, subcontracts, international business contracts, staffing and IT matters. She was also in charge of negotiating high cost contracts for various customers located in the United States, Asia, and Europe
Ms. Chim received her Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC. and her bachelor’s from American University where she graduated with distinction.
In her spare time, Ms. Chim enjoys traveling around the world. She has lived in Australia and Poland, and visited various countries including Egypt, China, Cayman Islands, Mexico, France, Fiji, Dominican Republic and Japan. She also enjoys time with her husband, son, and two black lab rescues.
Memberships
*Virginia State Bar
*Member of the Fairfax Bar Association
*Member of Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
